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Infection Control
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Several Middle Eastern countries have implemented temporary travel bans and stricter immigration protocols to mitigate risk
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This article highlights how Improving infection control in relation to hospital wastewater requires a comprehensive and sustained approach.
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Norovirus is highly contagious and thrives in places where people gather at close quarters, which means cruise ships are particularly vulnerable.
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WHO is coordinating closely with multiple countries under the International Health Regulations or IHR, rules that define the rights and obligations of countries and WHO in responding to public health events.
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Noel S. Gonzaga, BSMT, MPH, AMT, RMT, CIC shines a light on common mistakes still prevalent in healthcare laundries.
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Widely Used Cleaning Chemicals Under Scrutiny for Lung Toxicity
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One in five admit they are more likely to skip handwashing when no one else is around
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"Clean Hospitals is making healthcare safer worldwide. Alexandra Peters reveals how innovation, training, and global collaboration are transforming hygiene, boosting patient safety, and turning every hospital into a cleaner, smarter facility.”
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Numerous studies indicate that reported compliance rates often mask deeper behavioural gaps. A meta-analysis focused on the Eastern Mediterranean region found that overall hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers was only about 32%, despite widespread attention to protocols and guidelines. This starkly contrasts with many hospitals’ audit reports, which regularly cite much higher compliance percentages.
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.png "The Misused Tool of Infection Control Within Healthcare Cleaning")
Auditing has become a problem area. In many organisations it has drifted into a tick-box exercise, producing scores that look reassuring but don’t stand up to closer examination
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.jpg "Designed to Heal or Designed to Contaminate? How Hospital Architecture Shapes Hygiene Outcomes")
Hospital architecture is not a neutral backdrop for care. It actively shapes how people move, where pathogens persist, how effectively spaces can be cleaned, and whether infection prevention protocols are followed consistently or broken daily under pressure. From the width of corridors to the placement of sinks, from ventilation systems to surface materials, design decisions can either reinforce safety or quietly sabotage it.
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A spotlight on the people driving infection prevention forward in the Middle East, celebrating their leadership, resilience, and commitment to making healthcare environments not just world-class, but truly safe.
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Although many people understand the health benefits of handwashing, the survey reveals that healthy habits often don’t last—especially in public restrooms. Last year, 81 percent of Americans shared they always washed their hands after using a public restroom. In 2026, that figure dropped to 76 percent.
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Research shows how materials and habits influence bacterial contamination on medical uniforms
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The investigators found the hand hygiene compliance rate observed by IP nurses was about 57 percent, while hospital volunteers -- who tended to blend in and not be recognized as hygiene auditors -- recorded rates of about 22 percent.
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The global ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection systems market will reach US$8.12 billion by 2033, driven by heightened infection prevention and control (IPC) requirements and rapid advances in AI-enabled and smart disinfection technologies.
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What unites hospitality and healthcare is a growing recognition that hand hygiene is no longer a standalone task. It is a system that blends design, technology, behaviour, and culture.
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In Oman, the healthcare sector is expanding rapidly and investing to comply with international standards and follow best practices. To protect patients, staff, and visitors, a standardized national cleaning program for healthcare facilities was developed in the Ministry of Health, Oman.
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Cleaning for health is no longer optional; it is a strategic imperative that aligns public health, regulatory compliance, and brand reputation.
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Hospitals are not clean just because they look clean. Viruses and bacteria don’t care about shiny floors. What matters is the right method, the right sequence, the right mindset.
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The move toward enzyme-based hygiene is not only possible — it’s already underway. Now, it’s time to ensure the systems around it are ready to support long-term, scalable adoption.
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By Mr. Jibi T, Senior Specialist and Lead IC, Aster, Access & NAS Clinics, UAE & Bahrain and Ms. Sarah Ilyas, Vertical Chief Nursing officer of Aster Hospitals and clinics UAE, Oman & Bahrain.
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The winner of MECHF AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN INFECTION CONTROL IN HEALTHCARE shares details of their hygiene protocols.
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Sink mitigation is significant to keeping patients safe, until the industry can learn how to reliably and consistently disinfect sinks.
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Roughly 7 out of every 100 patients in high-income countries acquire at least one HAI during their hospital stay. In low- and middle-income countries, this number doubles to 15 per 100 patients.
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CDC reports that HAIs account for roughly 1.7 million infections annually, leading to nearly 99,000 deaths. Traditional cleaning methods, reliant on human staff, can miss critical spots or fail to maintain consistent standards. But now, IoT and robotics are stepping in to close those gaps
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Proper hand hygiene lowers the risk of transmission of not just viruses like SARS-CoV-2 but other infectious pathogens like MRSA, norovirus, and C. difficile. It is also key in antimicrobial resistance management through restricting the space for microbes to evolve and spread.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15% of the waste generated by healthcare activities is considered hazardous, which may be infectious, toxic, carcinogenic, flammable, corrosive, reactive, explosive, or radioactive. Effective management of these materials is crucial to ensure the safety of healthcare workers, patients, and the environment.
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Experts Aaron Woodall and Bassel Molaeb emphasize that AI is not just a tool but a game-changer in IPC.
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This year’s top five healthcare facilities stand out for their exceptional commitment to cleanliness, state-of-the-art hygiene protocols, and unwavering dedication to patient safety.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15% of the waste generated by healthcare activities is considered hazardous, which may be infectious, toxic, carcinogenic, flammable, corrosive, reactive, explosive, or radioactive. Effective management of these materials is crucial to ensure the safety of healthcare workers, patients, and the environment.
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While traditional cleaning and disinfection methods remain fundamental, emerging technologies are revolutionizing hygiene protocols, making infection control more effective and efficient.
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Contact time is only one aspect that matters for proper disinfection. But it is not just that. Disinfection is a serious job that requires expertise, care and high quality tools. In cleaning as well as in disinfection, rushing off is not desirable.
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Megan H. Amerson-Brown, Ph.D., D(ABMM), MLS (ASCP), CIC emphasized the importance of hand hygiene monitoring in a world that doesn’t realise its significance despite the pandemic!
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New Mowasat Hospital's housekeeping team maintains a clean and hygienic environment for our patients, staff, and visitors. Their commitment to hygiene and infection prevention is reflected in their rigorous policies and procedures designed to minimize the risk of HAIs.
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Human metapneumovirus usually causes cold or flu-like symptoms. However, how sick a person gets depends on many things, including their overall health. Also, since viruses can evolve, their severity may change.
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After years of strict hygiene practices implemented during the pandemic, many individuals may now experience fatigue or complacency regarding hand hygiene.
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While automated dispensers are a common choice for healthcare facilities, the study indicated that 90 percent of hospitals using them had at least one that was malfunctioning.
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AMR is a growing problem. Cleaning and disinfection are important tools to tackle this problem. Do we use these tools in a professional way? Or is there room for improvement?
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Ventilation and filtration are important components of a multilayered approach for reducing the spread of respiratory viruses indoors. Increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors is one of the most important ways to reduce the likelihood that viruses are spread.
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.gif "Colour additive in wipes improves hospital cleaning: study")
A simple visual cue could improve the efficiency and efficacy of hospital cleaning, according to a study.
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The survey found that engaging in handwashing makes us feel safer and healthier — 72 percent associate at least one of those feelings in the moment immediately after washing their hands.
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Nearly 4 in 5 hospitals are not staffed at sufficient level to keep patients safe from preventable infections
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Finding environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional disinfection methods and minimising the environmental impact of infection control practices are important considerations.
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In a groundbreaking report published today by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the group identified the myriad of difficulties, inefficiencies, and wasted time and money spent on deciphering cleaning instructions for medical instruments.
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.jpg "Most hospital infections come from bacteria living in the patient: study")
New research carried out at the University of Washington School of Medicine points to the fact that in most cases, the infection-causing bacteria were actually present in the patient's body before surgery.
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This month, we welcome Caroline Bilen, CEO of Compass Healthcare Consultancy to our interview section. Caroline has dedicated her career to advancing strategies that safeguard patients and healthcare workers against infectious diseases.
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.jpg "Survey reveals promising handwashing trends")
Studies reveal 74 percent of people wash their hands more frequently or more thoroughly in response to seasonal virus outbreaks and 54 percent increase their hand washing activity when they’re sick.
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Researchers discovered that exercise mats harboured almost eight times the amount of bacteria as yoga balls and more than dumbells and barbells.
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JN.1, is projected to be responsible for between 15 and 29 percent of total cases as of data from Dec. 8 from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Norovirus is spreading rapidly in the UK among children up to four years old - and bleach-based products are being advocated to help stop the spread of the bug.
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At Aster Sanad Hospital, patient safety is paramount. The hospital follows strict infection prevention measures, including standard precautions like hand hygiene, safe injections, and proper use of personal protective equipment.
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Utilizing its OpenBlue ecosystem of smart IOT and AI-driven solutions Johnson Controls will measure a range of indoor environmental parameters.
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The cultural impact of hand hygiene in the Middle East is a dynamic fusion of tradition and modernity. While rooted in religious and traditional practices, the region has embraced contemporary hygiene measures as a response to global health challenges.
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Featuring 5 healthcare facilities that place hygiene over everything else!
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Hand hygiene is a fundamental practice that still often goes underestimated in our daily lives. Yet, its importance cannot be overstated, especially in the context of public health .
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By Cameron Mehrabanpour, Head of Estates and Facilities at Heriot-Watt University Dubai
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- The cleaning teams consist of 151 cleaners and 18 supervisors - The team responded to around 670 emergency notices since the beginning of 2023 - As part of its robust efforts to maintain city cleanliness, 144 tons of public waste were collected from 7 campaigns to clean Dubai's highways - The fleet size for Dubai Municipality's waste operations management is 752 vehicles out of which 35 are for road cleaning
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.jpg "How To Clean Public Transport")
Processes and technologies to clean public transport
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The debate between Infection Prevention & Environmental support services.
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Pathogens associated with HAI are causing increased mortality and morbidity and are linked to the transmission of multidrug resistance organisms, one of the biggest global health threats today.
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Understanding the Effectiveness of Microfibre Cleaning with a Leading Infection Control Practitioner.
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Farnek, is starting a campaign to remind healthcare facility managers, about the importance of indoor air quality, particularly as the UAE approaches summer and outdoor temperatures and humidity begin to rise.
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Global Infection Prevention Application Expert of Diversey - Peter Teska
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A convergence of environmental challenges. Benefits of an integrated response.
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Healthcare providers might need to clean their hands as many as 100 times per 12-hour shift.
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A distinguished infection control practitioner shares IPC measures in Saudi Arabia
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Robert Koch Institute has included probiotic surface cleaning in its new official recommendations for hospital hygiene and infection control, a major breakthrough for the HeiQSynbio technology.
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Kimberly-Clark, the Kimberly-Clark Foundation and their NGO partners continue their grassroots initiatives to address this global sanitation crisis and help protect human health, safety, dignity and overall quality of life.
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A solution that provides 3 months of protection on multiple surfaces.
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PARTNERED CONTENTCelebrating the International Infection Prevention Week
This year’s theme is “The Future is Infection Prevention: Our 50 Years of Infection Prevention”
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Mr. Pradeep Ratnagiri, Chief Operating Officer, Shifa Hospital, Oman shares important insights about the country’s infection control practices in the healthcare sector.
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.jpg "APIC encourages healthcare masking despite recent CDC guidance shift")
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently relaxed their guidelines on the use of masks in healthcare settings, APIC has a different recommendation for employees in-question.
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Dr. Ahmed Baggashi, the President of the Middle East Forum for Hospital Sterilization Sciences, discusses the role of housekeepers
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Thousands of people across the world die from infections acquired while receiving healthcare. Here’s what Aster does to combat the challenge
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2 experts share their views on the importance of hygiene in healthcare settings beyond COVID-19.
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Hygiene in healthcare environments has always been a sensitive affair. We explore the risk factors, audit measures and other basics of healthcare hygiene.
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Soft services and infection prevention experts discuss the working, implications, advantages and disadvantages of cleaning with dry steam vapour.
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Patty Olinger, JM, RBP, Exec. Director, Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) shares important information about Monkeypox.
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IAQ - startling facts and realities
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PARTNERED CONTENTSecure high hand hygiene standards with Tork skincare solutions
World hand hygiene day is the WHO's call to boost hand hygiene among healthcare workers.
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Hygiene fatigue has paved the way for targeted hygiene!
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Modern devices and technologies aim to preserve the quality of the marble, remove dirt and purify the Kaaba in particular, Grand Mosque in general
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Exploring the pros and cons of the nature’s disinfectant
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The recent Omicron strain is capable of surviving on human skin and plastic longer than its counterparts — making touchpoint disinfection an ongoing emphasis for facilities.
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Healthcare professionals from UAE and Kuwait share their perspective on infection control and patient safety
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Each path is equipped with guideline stickers that outline social distancing rules Copies of the Qur'an at the two holy mosques are also being wiped down to ensure the safety of visitors
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A glimpse into how hotels, airports and malls are reinforcing infection control for the Omicron variant.
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Organisers were doubling down on its commitment to continue hosting an exceptional and safe World Expo
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Patricia Olinger, Executive Director, Global Biorisk Advisory Council shares interesting information about Omicron.
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4,000 male and female workers carry out the cleaning operations and are supervised by 200 senior employees
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More than 290,000 masks have been distributed since the full capacity was raised at the holy mosque last month
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Peter Teska , Global Infection Prevention Application Expert, Diversey discusses how prolonged school closures are associated with a number of negative outcomes for children. Can children safely return to school?
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Study paves way for earlier detection of the coronavirus in buildings.
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The protocol has assigned relevant authorities to monitor any violations by people coming for prayers, as well as coordinate with relevant companies to ensure the cleaning and sanitisation of ablution areas and toilets before every prayer
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The first organisations have achieved the GBAC STAR Registered Technology & Registered Programs designation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA.
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Tork manufacturer Essity showed its credentials as a global hand hygiene ambassador at Dubai EXPO 2020.
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MoPH, in collaboration with its partners in the health sector, has launched a virtual awareness campaign to promote awareness of infection control and prevention in health institutions in Qatar
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On the World Handwashing day, Jibi Thankachan, Specialist & Preventionist at King Saud Medical City, Riyadh highlights the importance of hand hygiene.
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This worldwide awareness day falls on 15 October, and this year the theme is ‘Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together’.
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Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has approved a decision lifting the restrictions imposed on Qatar Clean Certified restaurants and cafes.
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Motivated by the current situation of Corona, students from two GEMS schools designed öryggi (Icelandic for safety) and in-house sanitisers, a more effective alternative to the current chemical-based cleaning processes.
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PARTNERED CONTENTBuild that Circle of Trust with the Fine Guard PureSurfaces Money-Back Guarantee Program
James Michael Lafferty, the CEO of Fine Hygienic Holding explains how the program will give businesses 21-day germ protection and added protection for their customers...
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PARTNERED CONTENTDiversey & Dubai London Clinic's Hygiene Partnership
A glimpse of how a strategic hygiene partnership can result in qualitative results!
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Exploring the pros and cons of using hand dryers during the pandemic.
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The iconic Creekside property is the first Dubai hotel to partner with AiroCide - industrial air purifiers, developed by NASA.
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The recommendations are all advisory and are intended to help employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their staff.
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A look at the challenges faced during the pandemic and its impact on the future of cleaning and hygiene.
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A shift in the perception of cleaning and disinfection.
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Inconsistent implementation of hygiene protocols has been seen in this report.
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Experts talk about hospital high touchpoints and the various measures that must continue to be taken to prevent HAIs and cross contamination…
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This article discusses some of the evidence on how hand hygiene can reduce absenteeism for students.
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#Fine Guard PureHands provides 24 hours of safety # Fine Guard PureSurfaces lasts 21 days.
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“From a visual sense of ‘not being dirty’, hygiene now assumes a level of sanitation and disinfection, which has been unprecedented before this pandemic.”
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Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas in Doha,Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall, Kuwait and Park Hyatt Dubai in Dubai.
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John Manohar, Cluster Executive Housekeeper, J5 Hotels discusses the importance of PPE and the need to choose the right one.
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More than 2 million masks and 250,000 hand sanitizers will be donated to frontline workers around the Middle East region.
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Meet the new generation of disinfection products and services…
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Hospital floors are also significant sources of HAIs, find studies…
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PARTNERED CONTENTCould disinfection coatings be the future?
It would stimulate customer and staff satisfaction, it would also reduce cleaning costs, efforts and time.
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A team of scientists is working on PPE that can be sprayed into noses and mouths to shield people from COVID-19.
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This is part of preventive programs by health authorities to reinforce precautionary measures.
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Intertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has today announced that it has launched surface hygiene testing for facilities and workplaces in the UAE that can test a variety of hard surfaces for evidence of COVID-19.
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Cleaning InteractiveTM, the cleaning industry’s first high-tech event incorporating visualisation technology, will showcase a wealth of innovation and practical infection control insight. Free to attend, the virtual event takes place 6-7 October.
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PARTNERED CONTENTAre you cleaning correctly?
Ever since the Novel Coronavirus became a threat, cleaning has taken on a new meaning - both at home and the workplace.
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FHH unveils technologically enhanced gloves which kills viruses on contact.
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As the Middle East gets ‘back to business’, new hygiene regulations have been drafted for all salons as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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.jpg "Coronavirus: WHO rethinking how COVID-19 spreads in air")
The World Health Organization has acknowledged there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air. The airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings, an official said.
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The field and administrative teams at Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer) have made significant contributions to the national disinfection program throughout its run.
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PARTNERED CONTENTA Hand Sanitizer that Cares!
Disinfecting and caring for your hands.
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Times are difficult - a virus is literally threatening to decimate the human population in no time.
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The UAE has donated 6.6 tonnes of material to the United Kingdom that will enable the country to produce millions of items of personal protective equipment, PPE.
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Mood Media, the world’s leading in-store media solutions company dedicated to elevating the Customer Experience, has introduced a new suite of sophisticated germicidal protection and advanced cleaning offerings called CleanShield Solutions.
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In the middle of a pandemic, the best thing you can probably do is to maintain the highest levels of cleaning and sanitation.
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Businesses across the U.S. have begun intensive Covid-19 disinfection regimens, exposing returning workers and consumers to some chemicals that are largely untested for human health, a development that’s alarming health and environmental safety experts.
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PARTNERED CONTENTAll you need to know about Office Hygiene
The concept of hygiene all around the world has evolved significantly over the past few months.
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PARTNERED CONTENTThe Essentials of Retail Hygiene
Often visited by people from different walks of life, the retail sector is one of the trickiest to clean and disinfect.
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PARTNERED CONTENTTowards a more hygienic healthcare facility
Healthcare workers have been referred to as the “the first line of defence” against major viruses.
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After closure of two months, the ministry of Islamic affairs, call and guidance in Saudi Arabia, and its staff have cleaned and sanitized over 90,000 major and minor mosques across the Kingdom, except in Makkah.
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Etihad Airways has launched its ‘Etihad Wellness’ initiative, an expanded health and hygiene programme as well as customer guide that will build on its existing stringent measures.
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If not before, now cleaners are being celebrated even more across the world.
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A recent study reveals that the Coronavirus might spread through the air, and with COVID-19 spreading far and wide, the need to decontaminate air in hospitals has become higher than usual. So how does the Coronavirus spread through the air?
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The Tamil Nadu government asked district collectors to refrain from installing “disinfection tunnels” in public places after experts said there was no “scientific proof” of the effectiveness of such tunnels in killing the coronavirus.
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Perhaps one of the most critical public health actions, the health care systems across the world can take during a pandemic is to identify individuals with COVID-19 infection and immediately isolate them to prevent further spread.
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As commercial hand sanitisers run dry in the US and Europe, people in Turkey are turning to a traditional, aromatic fragrance that has taken on a whole new relevance amid the coronavirus pandemic: kolonya, reports BBC.
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Hospitals have been on the forefront of the Covid 19 pandemic since the very first case.
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Coronavirus derives its name from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo, which refers to the characteristic appearance of the virus particles (virions): they have a fringe reminiscent of a royal crown or of the solar corona.
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The new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China, reports BBC. "The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
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As a regional leader in the Wellness and Hygiene space, we believe in leaving a mark on the communities where we operate, aiming to actively improve wellness, hygiene, and wellbeing.
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The Dubai Municipality places much emphasis on maintaining optimum hygiene in beauty salons. From medical tests for salon staff to UV sterilization, there are strong regulations for pretty much everything. Here’s listing a few!
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The National Health Commission on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 said that 2,015 new cases of coronavirus had been reported over the last 24 hours.
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It’s that time of the year when students are back from their summer break for yet another academic year.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat.
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Infection control is the mainstay of any healthcare facility. With the increasing number of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI), it is imperative that every healthcare facility has impeccable infection control measures in place.
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Michael Rollins, Independent Healthcare Consultant, highlights the evolving challenges facing environmental support services in infection prevention as the UAE takes on global prominence.
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With hygiene fast becoming an even more crucial factor in the healthcare industry
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According to a September 2017, article in Fast Company, a U.S. publication that focuses on developments in high technology, Dubai and other parts of the Middle East are moving quickly to become major high-tech centers before the region's oil runs out.
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Emrill's Intensive Cleaning Training Programme by JCI Standard
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.jpg "The New Concern About Effective Disinfecting")
Quat binding and its effect on disinfection
